203: The Age Without Saints (Part Two)

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Gu Yun had reached his first birthday.

In this year, the resources he enjoyed were enough to make outside Saints envious.

His daily bath water consisted of True Dragon Blood diluted ten thousand times.

He drank Phoenix Divine Milk, which could nourish the Dao Body.

Even the jade bed he slept on was a top-grade treasure that could automatically warm and nourish the Divine Soul.

The Gu Family's emphasis on this Dao Child was evident.

An interesting incident also occurred during this time.

An Elder responsible for teaching the younger generation was discussing the Dao outside the "Cloud Top Heavenly Palace."

He was struggling with a difficult question regarding the Dao of the Sword, and his Qi had become disordered.

Gu Yun, inside the palace, seemed disturbed by this aura and let out an impatient "yee-ah."

He casually pointed toward a pine tree outside the hall.

The Elder felt as if he had been struck by lightning and followed the direction of the pointer.

He saw that although the pine needles were soft, they contained a hidden sharpness.

He instantly achieved Epiphany regarding the sword principle of "Using Softness to Overcome Hardness," and the Bottleneck that had troubled him for years was immediately broken through.

As this incident spread, Gu Yun's reputation for being a "Heavenly Born Dao Body, naturally harmonious with the Dao" grew even louder.

Soon after, the Family Head, Gu Tianxing, personally made an announcement.

To celebrate the Dao Child's first birthday, an unprecedented and grand 'Zhuazhou' ceremony (First Birthday Grasping Ceremony) would be held.

At that time, the Family Treasury would be opened, allowing the Dao Child to choose anything he wished.

As soon as the news broke, the entire main branch of the Gu Family rejoiced.

However, undercurrents stirred within some collateral branches.

Especially the lineage of the collateral branch Genius, Gu Hao.

His grandfather, Elder Gu Changming, darkened his gaze upon hearing the news.

The First Birthday Grasping Ceremony was set up in the Gu Family Ancestral Hall Square.

The atmosphere at the scene was solemn and dignified.

The ground was covered with a "Star River Carpet," woven from Stardust.

Displayed on the carpet were treasures, each capable of driving the outside world into a frenzy.

One item was a page from the "Initial Interpretation of the Dao Origin," rumored to be personally written by an Ancient Venerable, containing a trace of Origin Law.

There was a broken Saint Weapon sword tip named "Star Shatterer," whose material was inherently indestructible.

There was a supreme Divine Pill capable of reviving the dead and regenerating flesh and bone—the "Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill."

There was also a life-saving trump card refined by a Saint, the "Void Transfer Talisman."

And even the Gu Family Head Seal, symbolizing the Family's highest authority.

Every treasure drew gasps of admiration from the attendees.

Before the ceremony began, Gu Changming stepped forward, bringing his eldest grandson, Gu Hao.

Gu Hao was only seven years old, yet he was already at the Peak of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Furthermore, he possessed a rare, Unparalleled Divine Body for the Dao of the Sword, earning him the tribal title of "Little Sword Lord."

Gu Changming stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Family Head, Hao'er heard that the Dao Child is naturally extraordinary and came specifically to pay his respects. Hao'er, why don't you quickly demonstrate the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Art' you recently comprehended for the Dao Child Little Brother?"

Hearing this, Gu Hao drew his Spiritual Sword and began practicing in front of everyone.

The sword light was like flowing clouds, and Sword Qi crisscrossed the air.

It indeed drew a chorus of praise.

After finishing the demonstration, he walked up to Gu Yun's swaddling clothes.

His tone carried a hint of condescending arrogance.

"Little Brother, how is this sword technique?"

"When you grow up, Big Brother can teach you."

"But you must study hard and not just cry like other little babies."

As soon as he finished speaking, Family Head Gu Tianxing's expression remained unchanged.

However, the Elders of the main branch frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Gu Changming’s face was filled with satisfaction.

Finally, the ceremony officially began.

A maid held Gu Yun and slowly walked past the dazzling array of divine artifacts.

Everyone held their breath, guessing which world-shaking marvel the Dao Child would choose.

However, Gu Yun's pure eyes merely swept calmly over the divine artifacts that shone with brilliant light.

His gaze did not linger at all.

It was as if he were looking at a pile of ordinary rubble.

The entire audience was stunned.

Under the confused gaze of the crowd, Gu Yun's sight finally settled.

He was not looking at any of the treasures.

Instead, his gaze landed on an Azure Steel Longsword worn on the waist of Family Head Gu Tianxing.

It was merely a ceremonial sword used for decoration, completely devoid of Spiritual Qi.

It was not even as good as the Spiritual Sword Gu Hao had just held.

Gu Changming sneered, making no effort to hide it.

He believed that this so-called Dao Child simply didn't know the value of goods.

Just at this moment.

Gu Yun stretched out his small, tender hand and pointed toward Gu Tianxing from afar.

He let out a sound of "yah."

The next moment, a sudden change occurred!

"Clang!"

The longsword on Gu Tianxing's waist automatically unsheathed.

It transformed into a streak of light, ignoring spatial distance.

It instantly appeared in Gu Yun's hand and was firmly grasped by him.

The entire audience burst into an uproar!

Telekinesis with a Single Thought!

A one-year-old infant could actually achieve this!

However, an even more astonishing scene followed.

The moment Gu Yun's small hand grasped the sword hilt.

Something seemed to awaken deep within his pure Soul.

It was not memory, but an understanding older and more fundamental than memory—a deeper comprehension of the Origin.

It was as if he had known how to hold a sword since birth.

And understood the true meaning of the sword since birth.

A supreme sword principle resonated uniquely across the ages with his current Primordial Chaos Sacred Body and Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.

An extremely faint but fundamentally terrifying "Origin Sword Intent" flashed past him.

This Sword Intent was formless and intangible; it was not deliberately manifested.

Yet, it precisely swept past Gu Hao, who had just been showing off.

The satisfaction and arrogance on Gu Hao's face instantly froze.

The world before his eyes vanished.

In its place was an incomprehensible, terrifying image.

He saw the Dao of the Sword Law he was so proud of collapsing inch by inch.

He saw the endpoint of thousands of Sword Cultivators was a silent Void Realm.

He seemed to hear the wail of the "Great Dao of the Sword."

His proud Sword Heart was so fragile before this "Origin Sword Intent" that it was worse than dust.

"Ah—!"

Gu Hao let out a miserable shriek.

His eyes rolled back, and his Sword Heart completely shattered.

His legs gave way, and he collapsed directly onto the ground, foaming at the mouth, his humiliation fully exposed.

Silence instantly fell over the square.

Everyone was so shocked by this scene that their Divine Souls were scattered.

Gu Changming's face turned ghastly pale, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Just at this moment.

An ancient, majestic will descended from the depths of the Forbidden Ground.

The voice transformed into a resonating chime, echoing throughout the entire Ancestral Ground.

"What a magnificent 'Innate Sword Embryo'! No external objects are needed; the Myriad Dao comes naturally."

"This child's sword will suppress an entire generation and bring eternal glory to my Gu Family!"

The voice paused momentarily, and a terrifying pressure suddenly intensified.

The pressure landed precisely upon Gu Changming.

"Some people should conduct themselves properly!"

Gu Changming could no longer bear it and immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his robes.

He repeatedly kowtowed: "Old Ancestor, please quell your anger! Your grandson knows his mistake! Your grandson knows his mistake!"

Family Head Gu Tianxing strode forward and calmly picked up Gu Yun.

His face was filled with ecstasy and pride.

He looked at Gu Changming, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes cold.

As for the center of the incident, the infant Gu Yun, it was as if everything that just happened had nothing to do with him.

He released his small hand, and the Azure Steel Longsword fell to the ground with a "clatter."

He let out a tiny yawn and snuggled into his father's arms.

Then, finding a comfortable position, he closed his eyes and peacefully fell asleep.